Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is looking into providing student housing at its Surrey campus.
KPU issued a press release on Thursday indicating the university’s board of governors approved a motion to “develop a business case to support a future application to the provincial government for project funding.”
Peter Smailes, KPU’s vice president of administration, noted there’s demand for student housing, “with low rental vacancy rates in the cities where we are located and a clear need identified in the most recent survey of our students.”
A KPU student satisfaction survey last year found one in five students had “temporary or crowded living arrangements” and according to Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation vacancy rates are less than one per cent one per cent in Surrey, Langley and Richmond, where KPU has campuses.
The press release states KPU favours its Surrey campus for an initial student housing project as rapid bus service is expected to begin this fall along 72 Avenue.
“While it is too early to know whether the university’s application for provincial funding will be successful, we would like Surrey residents to know we are looking at this potential new stage in KPU’s growth,” Smailes added. “There will be opportunities for students, employees, neighbours, and partners to provide input at the appropriate time if the housing initiative receives the funding needed to take it forward.”
tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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